A Little Mother to the Others

rightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another. It did not seem so very dreadf

a gentle breeze is blowing, it is almost impossible to be all sulks and tears and misery. Even Diana was interested in what was going on. She had never been away from home before, and she found it pleasant to watc

ld not bear, but as Ann showed her all her treasures, and as Ann happened also to be very fond of animals, Diana began to chatter, and pres

s. I must wun and fetch 'em. Iris promised to see to 'em last night, so I know they isn't deaded; but I must go this very instant minute to

Putting wings to her sturdy little feet, she sped across the lawn, ra

he little bed was neatly made; there was not a si

where my pets is. Oh, they must be desp'te hungry, poor darlin's.

not far away, heard Diana's imperious little cr

hear one of the strange littl

learn to speak respectful before I take any notice. I fully expect it's that pert little Mis

e, the jet-black head and sparkling eyes

t," said Diana, dancing up to her. "Now

Miss Diana, not to call me old

our hair is gway; you is awfu' old, I 'spect. Now, where

e, for she really was afraid of the burst of wrath wh

going to catch flies for my spiders. I know how to catch 'em quite well; and my dear little bettles, too, must be fe

ave no messing with horrid vermin in this house. I would not stay here for

no cons'kence. I want my darlin' pets, my little home things that comed fro

good talking to," said Simpson. "Well, th

y! W

iss; you'll never

ce turning pale. "Gone! Did

st night and threw it into the dust-hole. I hope the vermin

meant to strike Simpson, but then, thinking better of it, she turned and rushed like a little fury from the room. Downstair

Sunday. He did not feel at all inclined to write his sermon, but as it had to be got through somehow, he thought he would devote an hour, or perhaps an hour and a half, to its composition this morning. When he s

little spitfire

ou all who is spitfires; it's not me. I

d Mr. Dolman. "I am willing to l

ore diverting than sit

took away to pwison. She has done a murder-she has killed my-" But here little Diana's voice suddenly failed; high as her spirit was,

after a fashion, and matters might never have been so sore and hard again for little Diana, if at that moment Mrs. Dolman had not appeared. She was walking hastily across the hall with her district-vis

of the ludicrous, stopped her

old thing you

s enraged

hild? Why, you have taken her in your arms; put her down

put me down out of your arms. You will send for the perlice, won't you, and you'll have that howid puson upstairs put in pwison. Go 'way, aunt. I never did like y

ite an ugly old man, but all the same I like you;" an

uble. I cannot in the least make out why, but perhaps you had b

that her spirit shall be broken. It was all very well for you to go on with your tantrums at the Manor, miss, but now you are under my

pped?" ques

ducted her across the cool hall and into a room at the further end of the passage. This room was nearly empty, matting covered the floor and a round table stood in the center, while two or three high

the spirit which had been given to them at their birth was subdued and broken here, and here they learned to fear mamma, although not to respect her. They were all accustome

or your uncle names, or doing anything but just behaving like a proper little Christian child, I shall have

as well as that awfu' old Simpson upstairs. She has gone and murd

until dinner-time," said Mrs. Dolman, and s

oarse, no one heard her, and no one came to the rescue. At last, worn out with her frantic grief, sh

s, did not miss her little sister until the preparation gong for dinner sounded. The moment its sonorous notes

ushed. Mamma would be very angry if we were not all in the dining room when the second gong soun

cousins into the house. Now, for the

e said. "Apollo,

p the lawn; Iris ra

nrad," said Iris, "but where can Di b

eater part of the morning," rep

hake. "I say, Phil," he continued, "is it true tha

so loud. I'll take you, if

lit'?" ques

Orion to one side and began to whispe

won't tell. What are y

find Diana,

er me, Iris. I am talking to Philip. Phil and I has got some

, if you are not going to be a silly goose and a tell-tale, I'll-" He

lderment, turned t

nd Diana,"

. "Perhaps she has gone to the nurs

cool and pleasant in contrast to the hot outside w

amma won't be pleased unless you are all waiting and r

!" said Iris, "do you happ

spirited black eyes?"

know anythi

les halfway up on his

on your aunt, my dear. No, there is no use asking me. I vow, once for all, that I am not going to interfere with you child

; "we'll get into the most dreadful scrape if

Jane, please," she continued, running up to her aunt as she spoke,

, "for the simple reason that she has been a very impertinent,

aneys' father could give very piercing glances out of his dark eyes when he chose, and Mrs. Dolman had been known, in her early days, to quail before them. F

hesitated

and when you are naughty,-although I don't expect you will ever be naughty, Iris,-I trust you, at least, will be an example to the others,-but when an

u really think, Aunt Jane, that when m

, taking a key out of her pocket, opened the door of the punishment chamber. She threw it wide open

ares," said

how could you be cruel to her, and she is not long without

speak to me in that tone

fresh air, caused Diana to stir in her sleep. She raised her he

woman been sent to pwison? There's my darlin' pets gone and got deaded, and she deaded 'em. Has she been put in pwison for murder? Oh, there you is

he will not repent and beg my pardon she shall have no dinner. I will send her in som

she spoke, and Iris found h

and stood with her back to Iris. Her little bosom was heaving up and down

at her in

is before. What are you turning away fro

han ever, tears came into her eyes,

; I shan't come to you. You isn'

le, darling. Do, do come to your own

s!" sobb

rt; she rushed to her sister, flung herself upon

That howid old woman upstairs said they was wermin. She has killed 'em all. I can't stay here

n one of the ha

nt away to the angels, we four children would have to go out into the world and fight our battles. She said that everybody in the world has got a battle to fight, and even little children have to fight theirs. She said, too, that if we were brave and the kind of ch

shotted people down dead with her bow and arrows-I know kite well she w

rling. I think it wou

r bow and her arrows; she was a gweat huntwess, and she

tears and looked fi

mean to be good

n sure,

call Aunt Jane

-names don't si'nify, n

o and beg her

t's

re sorry that you

woom, then? and could I do j

to be hard on you to-day; but you see she has got a di

th a little gulp. "I'll beg her pardon, if it pleases her. I don't care-what's words? I'll go at o

'll be allowed to come to dinner

ed her little sister's face and hands and brushed out her thick

d not do, Di, to be a re

called after the bwave lady what lived long, long ago. Is that the s

es, the rich color back again in her cheeks, and her black eyes

not intend to be hard on the children-in her heart of hearts sh

id, drawing Diana to her side, "and

swered Diana, in

rdon, and you won't

ana. She looked very attentively up and

ed Diana, under her breath. "I must get a g

ew out a chair

u to your dinner," she said. "I hope in future yo

hing and wholesome food, she began to eat with appetite. Towards the end o

ot woods w

are some nice woods

nt business to do in those woods." Diana looked round the table very

," she remarked. "You are all having a holiday, and as to-morrow lessons will of course be resumed, I do not see why your wish should not be gratified. Miss Ramsay, you will of course accompany the children, and, Lucy, my dear, you can h

tful, mamma," said Lu

, mamma,"

rs; French!" sa

ren are allowed to tender their thanks to m

owed and slig

Diana, fixing her dark eyes

; your aunt

want no

e again," said Mrs. Dolman. "Miss Ramsay c

ank you, Aunt J

of her namesake-the great Diana of long ago. She wondered if in the deep s